Ana Zambrana

At ninety-two years old, born on December 24, 1933, in Mantua, Pinar del Río, Cuba, Ana Zambrana passed away on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Harlingen, Texas, after a long illness. Ana spent her early childhood in Mantua until her mother’s death and was initially taken in and later adopted by Francisco Waldo and María del Carmen Fernández.

She lived in Marianao, Havana, Cuba, until she immigrated to the USA. While living in New York City, Ana’s heart was always in Astoria. She worked with leather goods and took the most pride in producing belts for New York’s finest for 20 years before retiring early to become the primary caregiver for her biological brother Carlos’s wife, Maria, and later for Francisco Waldo and Maria del Carmen until their deaths.

Ana continued to live in Astoria, celebrating her birthdays each year at Radio City Music Hall for the Rockettes Christmas Extravaganza. This was followed by good laughter watching the uninitiated skate at Rockefeller Center's outdoor ice rink and dinner at Victor’s Cafe, her all-time favorite Cuban restaurant.

In February 2023, having never been ill before, Ana was found unresponsive, hospitalized, and unexpectedly diagnosed with multiple medical illnesses that ultimately took her life. Despite Astoria pulling at her heartstrings, she moved to Texas to live with her stepbrother, Francisco Fernandez, and his wife, Susan Power Fernandez. She was later transferred to hospice and died peacefully two years after, receiving all their love and exceptional care from her primary providers, Blanca Rodriguez and Marivel Santos-Guillen - her guardian angels on earth.

While Ana has no biological descendants, she is survived by her stepbrother, Francisco, his wife, Susan Power Fernandez, and their two children, Francis Paul and his wife Adrienne, as well as Joseph Richard. She loved them dearly and was always ready to whip up their favorite dish, ropa vieja, at a moment’s notice.

Ana was a devout Catholic. She said the rosary daily and loved singing at Sunday services. No matter the problem, Ana would always reassure others with her love and loyalty, along with her favorite saying: “Paciencia y resignación” and “Caminando, caminando que la Virgen va iluminando.” Ana adored Celia Cruz and always sang along with her as she played her CDs.

A Memorial Liturgy will take place Saturday, May 24, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at Buck Ashcraft San Benito Funeral Home. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated in Astoria, NY, at a later date. In memory of Ana, you may send donations to St. Frances X. Cabrini Shrine in NYC https://givebutter.com/SupportShrine.